In a rare and significant development for religious freedom in Pakistan, the Lahore High Court has ordered the issuance of a national identity card recognizing Tabish Naz as a Christian — 16 years after she converted from Islam.
The July 1 ruling mandates Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to issue a new computerized national identity card to Naz, now 35, identifying her faith as Christianity and officially recording her marriage to Khurram Shahzad, a Catholic and sanitary worker.
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Naz converted in 2009 and was married shortly after in a Christian ceremony officiated by a pastor. Despite numerous attempts, her efforts to update her identity documents were met with persistent resistance and even public humiliation at government offices.
“On multiple occasions, NADRA officials chastised me in front of others for leaving Islam,” Naz told UCA News. “I had to quietly leave each time to avoid further confrontation or worse.”
Converting from Islam in Pakistan carries grave social risks. Individuals who renounce the state religion are often labeled murtad (apostate), a term that carries heavy social stigma and can invite threats or violence. Although apostasy is not officially criminalized under Pakistan’s Penal Code, its consequences can be dire.
Naz, now a mother of five, described the court’s judgment as “a divine gift after enduring years of struggle and rejection.”
“We went through so many challenges, especially getting our children enrolled in school and securing their birth certificates,” she said. “Now, by the grace of Jesus, we finally have justice.”
Her legal counsel, Lazar Allah Rakha, hailed the judgment as a breakthrough moment for constitutional rights in Pakistan.
“This decision reinforces Article 20 of the Constitution, which ensures the freedom to practice and profess one’s religion,” Rakha explained. “Under Islamic law this would be highly controversial, but the Constitution provides room for such recognition.”
Rakha also emphasized the reluctance of many Christian converts to come forward due to fear of retaliation. “Extremist pressure deters many from filing legal petitions,” he added. “More often, Christians convert to Islam to protect themselves. This is the opposite scenario.”
Activists and Christian leaders have called the ruling historic — not only for the individual involved but for the broader implications it holds for religious minorities and freedom of belief in the country.
Anjum James Paul, a representative of Christian Solidarity International (CSI), which provided legal assistance to Naz, said ensuring her safety during court proceedings was a significant concern.
“We hope this judgment opens doors for other families in similar situations and addresses the legal roadblocks their children face,” Paul said. “This is a step forward in securing their fundamental human rights.”
Father Bonnie Mendes, former executive secretary of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, echoed similar sentiments, calling the verdict a “revolutionary milestone.”
“Such recognition is extremely rare. The social and legal environment in Pakistan makes conversions from Islam almost impossible,” Mendes said.
This ruling comes amid a broader context of religious intolerance in Pakistan. In 2015, a Christian couple, Aleem Masih and Nadia Din Meo, were tragically killed after Nadia, a former Muslim, embraced Christianity. Their story remains a chilling reminder of the violence that can follow such personal choices.
Although Pakistan’s constitution promises religious freedom, blasphemy laws and societal pressures often overshadow those guarantees. A 2007 proposal by religious political parties even sought to criminalize apostasy with capital punishment for men and life imprisonment for women. Though it failed to pass, the sentiment behind it remains potent.
The outcome of Tabish Naz’s case is a significant precedent — both legally and symbolically — in a country where state and society largely discourage conversion from Islam. For many Christians and human rights defenders, this may be the beginning of a slow but hopeful shift toward greater religious freedom in Pakistan.
